Hereford Cattle Society
The Hereford Cattle Society is a UK registered charity and breed society that maintains the official Hereford cattle pedigree herd book, serving over 1,000 breeder-members through pedigree registration, genomic testing, and breed promotion activities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1878
- HeadquartersHereford, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hereford Cattle Society does
The Hereford Cattle Society is a UK-based breed society and registered charity (No. 217428), established in 1878, that maintains the official pedigree herd book for Hereford cattle in the United Kingdom. The Society serves over 1,000 active breeder-members, registering approximately 9,000 pedigree calves and recording more than 185,000 commercial progeny annually. Its core functions include pedigree registration, breed promotion, genetic evaluation, and member services such as DNA testing and performance recording.
The Society operates a technology platform built on the ABRI breed registry system for herd book management, with genomic testing delivered through a partnership with Weatherbys Scientific. It participates in national genetic evaluation programs and engages internationally through the World Hereford Council to promote UK Hereford genetics in export markets. Over the past decade, the Society has materially expanded its commercial progeny recording and genomic service offerings, with genomic testing volumes increasing roughly tenfold.
As a not-for-profit, the Society is funded primarily through annual membership subscriptions, pedigree registration fees, DNA/genomic testing charges, and commercial progeny recording fees. It is governed by a council of elected members and supported by a small executive team. Its strategic priorities center on modernizing digital services for members, expanding the breed's domestic and international footprint, and leveraging genetic and genomic data to enhance breeding outcomes for members.
Hereford Cattle Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hereford Cattle Society
- Legal name
- Hereford Cattle Society
- Website
- https://herefordcattle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1878
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Hereford Cattle Society is a UK registered charity and breed society that maintains the official Hereford cattle pedigree herd book, serving over 1,000 breeder-members through pedigree registration, genomic testing, and breed promotion activities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hereford Cattle Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Livestock Breed Registry
- NAICS
- Cattle Ranching and Farming (1121), Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming, including Feedlots (11211)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Breed Registry, Pedigree & Performance Recording Services (AFAEAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services (AFAEAJAC), Livestock Showing, Training & Performance Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAM)
Keywords
Where Hereford Cattle Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hereford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hereford Cattle Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to registration services, shows, sales, and society benefits including free Breedplan and scanning incentives.
- Registration Fees: Fees for registering pedigree cattle including DNA testing components. Pricing varies by age, notification status, and membership type. Young Hereford breeders (25 and under) receive discounted rates.
- DNA Testing Services: DNA sampling and testing for parentage verification and genetic defect screening. Samples processed via Weatherbys Scientific.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded Hereford clothing and accessories including ties, polo shirts, jackets, caps, and fleece items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard calf registration (online) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard calf registration (paper) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Young Hereford Breeders (25 years and under) - first 4 calves |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Late registration of previously notified calves |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Late registration of calves not previously notified |
| Subscription | Annual | Scanning Incentive |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | UKHY Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hereford Cattle Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hereford Cattle Society is the official UK registration authority for pedigree Hereford cattle. It maintains the breed registry, provides free Breedplan performance recording with EBV calculations, conducts DNA parentage verification and genetic defect testing, and organises official shows, sales, and a youth development programme.
Product overview
Hereford Cattle Society operates as a breed registration authority offering a unified portfolio of services for pedigree Hereford cattle breeders. The core offerings include pedigree cattle registration (managing herd names, calving records, and DNA profiling), Breedplan performance recording for genetic evaluation, and DNA testing for parentage verification and genetic defect screening. Additional services encompass official society shows and sales events, the UK Hereford Youth development programme, a semen marketplace, and branded merchandise. The society is the only beef breed society in the UK offering free Breedplan performance recording to its members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pedigree Cattle Registration Services Official registration and management of pedigree Hereford cattle in the UK, including herd registration, animal registration, DNA profiling, and maintenance of breed records.
- Breedplan Performance Recording Performance recording service enabling breeders to track and improve genetic progress through Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), covering weight, carcase, birth, and fertility data.
- DNA Testing Services DNA sampling and laboratory testing for parentage verification and detection of six breed-specific genetic defects.
- Official Society Shows and Sales Official auction sales and exhibition shows where members can exhibit, judge, and buy or sell pedigree Hereford cattle.
- UK Hereford Youth (UKHY) Programme Youth development programme offering training, workshops, stock judging, and international exchange opportunities for young Hereford enthusiasts aged 10-26.
- Semen for Sale Marketplace Society-operated marketplace listing Hereford bull semen from approved vendors for members and commercial buyers.
- Hereford Branded Merchandise Branded clothing and accessories for members and supporters including fleeces, caps, polo shirts, Oxford shirts, jackets, gilets, ties, and aprons.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350% increase in branded Hereford Beef carcases (compared to 10 years prior to 2019)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Hereford Cattle Society
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hereford Cattle Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hereford Cattle Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- World Hereford CouncilcoreFounding member of the World Hereford Council, a global network of countries working together for the benefit of Hereford breeders and breed enhancement. The council meets every four years at the World Hereford Conference in different member countries.
- American Hereford AssociationminorUS-based national Hereford association, part of the World Hereford Council network.
- Herefords AustraliaminorAustralian national Hereford association, part of the World Hereford Council network.
- Canadian Hereford AssociationminorCanadian national Hereford association, part of the World Hereford Council network.
- Irish Hereford Breed SocietyminorIrish national Hereford association, part of the World Hereford Council network.
- New Zealand Hereford AssociationminorNew Zealand national Hereford association, part of the World Hereford Council network.
- Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI)coreABRI hosts the Hereford breed database and provides online search tools for animals, pedigrees, EBVs, and members. Located in Australia with data transfers governed by standard clauses under GDPR.
- Weatherbys ScientificcoreLaboratory conducting DNA testing for parentage verification and genetic defect screening. Accepts hair and tissue samples submitted to Hereford House for analysis.
- National Cattle Breeding CentreminorVendor of Hereford semen through the society's semen for sale programme.
- UK Sire ServicesminorVendor of Hereford semen through the society's semen for sale programme.
- Cogent Breeding LtdminorVendor of Hereford semen through the society's semen for sale programme.
- Genus Breeding LtdminorVendor of Hereford semen through the society's semen for sale programme.
- DRA FabbminorVendor of Hereford semen (Fabb 1 Pure Force) through the society's semen for sale programme.
- DC Smith and SonminorVendor of Hereford semen (Laxfield Jefferson) through the society's semen for sale programme.
- BM and ES SangsterminorVendor of Hereford semen (Kileekie Hero) through the society's semen for sale programme.
- R and R WestawayminorVendor of Hereford semen (Venture Moler) through the society's semen for sale programme.
- Midlands and East Anglia Hereford Breeders AssociationminorRegional association hosting breed stand at Royal Norfolk Show and providing local support for breeders.
- London-based food PR and marketing agencyminorAppointed in late 2019 by society council to raise the profile of Hereford beef through traditional print and online marketing methods.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hereford Cattle Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- British Limousin Cattle Society: UK society registering pedigree Limousin cattle, another major continental beef breed. Comparable in membership-driven registration, performance recording, and show-and-sale operations aimed at commercial beef producers.
- Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society UK: UK society registering pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle, including maternal-beef and dairy-beef crossbreeding programmes analogous to Hereford's commercial positioning. Directly comparable registry and society operations.
- Simmental Society UK: UK society for pedigree Simmental cattle with similar registration, performance recording, and commercial dairy-cross outreach. Comparable as another UK beef breed society competing for similar membership and producer mind-share.
- American Hereford Association: National US registration authority for pedigree Hereford cattle and a fellow founding member of the World Hereford Council. Compares directly on registry, performance EPDs (Hereford's equivalent of EBVs), DNA testing, and youth programmes.
- British Charolais Cattle Society: UK society for pedigree Charolais cattle, another significant continental beef terminal sire breed. Comparable in registry, performance recording, and member-facing services targeting commercial beef producers.
- Herefords Australia: Australian Hereford breed registry and society, also part of the World Hereford Council. Comparable as a fellow national pedigree registry operating performance recording and genetic evaluation services for Hereford breeders.
- Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society: UK registration authority for pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle, the principal rival beef breed society in Britain. Directly comparable in that it manages pedigree registrations, breed standards, performance recording, and official sales for its members.
Others
- Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI): Australian-based provider of breed society database, pedigree, and EBV software used by Hereford Cattle Society (and many other breed societies globally). Included as a technology / infrastructure enabler rather than a direct competitor.
Regional players
- Irish Hereford Breed Society: National Hereford registry for Ireland with cross-border ties to UK breeders. Compares on pedigree registration and breed society services for the same genetic pool in a neighbouring jurisdiction.
- Canadian Hereford Association: Canadian Hereford registry and fellow World Hereford Council member. Comparable national pedigree registration authority serving commercial and purebred beef producers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hereford Cattle Society social profiles
Digital presenceHereford Cattle Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hereford Cattle Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Hereford Cattle Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hereford Cattle Society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hereford Cattle Society
What does Hereford Cattle Society do?
Hereford Cattle Society is the official UK registration authority for pedigree Hereford cattle. It maintains the breed registry, provides free Breedplan performance recording with EBV calculations, conducts DNA parentage verification and genetic defect testing, and organises official shows, sales, and a youth development programme.
Is Hereford Cattle Society a public or private company?
Hereford Cattle Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hereford Cattle Society founded?
Hereford Cattle Society was founded in 1878.
Where is Hereford Cattle Society based?
Hereford Cattle Society is headquartered in Hereford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hereford Cattle Society make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are registration Fees, DNA Testing Services and merchandise Sales.
Who are Hereford Cattle Society's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are British Limousin Cattle Society, Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society UK, Simmental Society UK, American Hereford Association, British Charolais Cattle Society, Herefords Australia and Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society. Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) is listed as an others. Regional players are Irish Hereford Breed Society and Canadian Hereford Association.
Does Hereford Cattle Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hereford Cattle Society.
What industry is Hereford Cattle Society in?
Hereford Cattle Society's product category is Livestock Breed Registry. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAJAD, Breed Registry, Pedigree & Performance Recording Services, with a secondary code of AFAEAJAC, Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services. Its NAICS code is 1121 and its SIC code is 700.